Starting your eCommerce journey doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Seriously. There are cheap eCommerce platforms that allow you to launch your online business without busting your budget.
But here’s the deal—not all platforms are created equal. That’s why I’m breaking down the cheapest eCommerce platforms, comparing both their price tags and their features, so you can make an informed choice.
First things first—What’s an eCommerce platform, anyway?
In plain English, an eCommerce platform is software that helps you create a website to sell your products whether they are physical products (think clothing, electronics, food) or digital (think ebooks, software, online courses).
These platforms, also called eCommerce website builders, are designed to take the headache out of the technical stuff. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a brick-and-mortar shop going digital, or a big company, these tools are for everyone!
Why Should You Even Bother with an eCommerce Platform?
An eCommerce platform is like your business’s digital backbone. It does everything from managing inventory and sales to handling marketing and customer service. It’s basically your one-stop shop for running your online business smoothly. Plus, these platforms make it ridiculously easy for customers to browse, buy, and come back for more.
Here’s the best part—they’re super user-friendly. You don’t need to be some tech wizard to set up a professional-looking online store. With customizable templates and integrated tools for payment processing and hosting, you can focus on what really matters: growing your business and selling your amazing products or services.
The Top 5 Cheapest eCommerce Platforms for 2024
You’re here because you want affordable options, right? I’ve got you. Here are my top picks for beginner solopreneurs who want to get started without breaking the bank.
1. Ecwid
If you’re looking for a versatile platform that lets you sell on your own website, social media, and even in person, Ecwid might just be your new best friend. And guess what? They have a free plan—yes, you read that right! With the free plan, you can add up to 5 products, set up shipping and payment methods, customize your store design, and start selling right away.
What I love about Ecwid:
It integrates seamlessly with your existing website. No need to build from scratch!
It’s perfect for selling through social media.
Supports multiple languages, which is great if you’ve got an international customer base.
Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $21 per month.
2. Spree Commerce
Spree Commerce is for all you tech-savvy go-getters out there (or those of you with a solid developer on hand). It’s what we call a “headless” eCommerce platform. Sounds fancy, right? All it means is you can pair Spree’s back-end software with any front-end you like. The catch? You’ll need some advanced coding chops to make it happen.
But here’s the beauty of it—it’s totally free! Spree gives you the flexibility to run multiple brands or vendors, customize your storefront to your heart’s content, and work with various languages and currencies. So if you’re ready to get your hands a little dirty in the coding world (or hire someone who can), this platform offers endless possibilities.
Why You’ll Love Spree Commerce:
Built on a scalable Ruby on Rails framework
Fully customizable and ready to grow with your biz
Strong, active community for ongoing development and support
Price: Completely free!
3. Shopify (Starter Plan)
If you’re looking for a simple, budget-friendly way to kick off your business or test out a sales idea, the Shopify Starter Plan is exactly what you need. It’s perfect for those who don’t want to invest tons of time or money into building a full-fledged website right off the bat. With the Starter Plan, you get all the essentials—product pages, checkout, and Linkpop—so you can start selling right now, even if the only tool you have is your smartphone.
Once you’ve got a solid customer base and you know your product is in demand, you might want to explore the Shopify Basic Plan for even more features, like theme editing and blog posts. But until then, the Shopify Starter Plan has you covered with everything you need to start selling on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Etsy, LinkedIn, and more. You can also easily share your products through email, SMS, or wherever else your audience is hanging out.
Here’s what you get with the Starter Plan:
A super simple online store: complete with product pages, a contact page, and Shopify’s lightning-fast, secure checkout
Mobile point of sale: sell anywhere in person and accept payments with just your smartphone—no fancy gadgets required!
Linkpop: Shopify’s commerce-focused “link in bio” tool, designed to make sharing your products on social media a breeze
Access to Shopify apps: to take your business to the next level when you’re ready
Shopify order management and integrated fulfillment network
Price: All this for just $5 a month—yep, you read that right! And, there's a free trial available.
4. Wix Stores
Wix Stores is the go-to if you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform that doesn’t require a tech degree to get your online shop up and running. And guess what? I personally run my business on Wix, and let me tell you—it’s a game changer. Many of my clients love it too! If you’re already using Wix for your website, you can seamlessly add Wix Stores for free.
Wix Stores gives you everything you need: unlimited products, sales across multiple platforms, automated emails, SEO tools, and Google Analytics integration. Plus, Wix’s AI design assistant will help you create a gorgeous site without the overwhelm.
Why You’ll Love Wix Stores:
Super beginner-friendly with an intuitive drag-and-drop builder
Packed with powerful eCommerce features
Here’s a little taste of what you get:
Abandoned cart recovery: Automated tools to get those “almost” customers back and boost sales
Advanced analytics: Track sales, customer behavior, and more with robust reporting tools
Integrated payments: Wix offers its own payment gateway, plus easy integration with PayPal, Square, ApplePay, GooglePay, Klarna, and Later—because we love giving customers options!
Wix POS: A seamless way to blend online and in-store sales through their integrated POS system
Price: Basic eCommerce plans start at just $29 a month
BigCommerce
If you're looking for a platform that can handle both Business-To-Consumer and Business-To-Business like a boss, BigCommerce has your back. This platform is packed with built-in features and offers top-tier personalized coaching and technical assistance to get you up and running fast. BigCommerce is all about making your life easier, from unlimited products to built-in SEO tools designed to help you grow.
Benefits:
No extra transaction fees (yes, please!).
Multichannel sales support, so you can sell on all the platforms that matter.
Tailored features specifically for B2B commerce—talk about versatility!
Price: Plans start at just $39 per month. Worth every penny for the power you’re getting!
If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of eCommerce and want to test the market without a big upfront investment, I highly recommend Shopify's Starter Plan.
As your Website Godmother, I know that getting started can feel overwhelming, but this plan makes it so much easier to take that first step.
For just $5 a month, you’ll have everything you need to start selling your products online—from checkout pages to sharing your products across social media. It an absolutely perfect way to validate your idea and build a customer base without the pressure of a full-blown website. Once you’ve nailed down what works, you can always upgrade to grow even further.
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